THE FORMATION OF HIGHER LEGAL EDUCATION IN UKRAINIAN LANDS AS THE MAIN FACTOR OF THE PHENOMENON OF THE “LAWYER’S AGE” IN THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL MOVEMENT OF THE LATE 19TH – EARLY 20TH CENTURIES

Abstract

This study examines the development of legal education in the Ukrainian lands during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and its role in the emergence of a socio-political phenomenon commonly referred to as the «lawyer’s age». The research demonstrates that the most favorable conditions for the training of legal professionals developed in the western Ukrainian regions, particularly in Galicia, where the Lviv University became a major center of legal education. The rapid increase in the number of law students in the late nineteenth century was driven by the growing demand for legal services, the relatively independent professional status of advocates, opportunities for career advancement, and the comparatively accessible conditions of study. The curriculum of the law faculty encompassed the principal branches of European legal scholarship, and some courses were delivered in the Ukrainian language. An important role in the training of legal professionals was also played by Chernivtsi University, which contributed to the formation of a Bukovinian scholarly community. The article also explores the specific features of legal education in the universities of Central and Eastern Ukraine – Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Novorossiysk. The educational process in these institutions was regulated by the university statutes of the Russian Empire, required mandatory attendance at lectures and practical classes, and excluded the use of the Ukrainian language in teaching. At the same time, the state provided partial financial support for students, primarily those intending to pursue careers in public service. The study further analyzes the formation of the academic staff of law faculties. In the western Ukrainian regions, the teaching staff was initially composed largely of scholars educated at European universities, whereas in Central and Eastern Ukraine an important role was played by graduates of Russian higher education institutions as well as by the universities’ own alumni. Differences in research priorities are also identified: historical-legal studies predominated in the academic tradition of the Russian Empire, while scholars in Galicia and Bukovina paid greater attention to political and economic issues. Particular attention is given to the active civic and political engagement of professors and students of law faculties. They participated in scholarly societies, cultural and educational organizations, and political movements. The combination of academic work with legal practice contributed to the development of students’ professional skills and strengthened the connection between legal theory and legal practice. The study concludes that the development of legal education in Ukrainian universities in the nineteenth century contributed to the emergence of an influential socio-professional group of advocates who played a significant role in the cultural, educational, and socio-political life of Ukrainian society. Their professional independence, legal expertise, and active civic engagement facilitated the dissemination of modernization ideas and the development of the national public movement.